Diode Lasers Review (Soprano, LightSheer etc.)

Diode Laser

Wavelength 800 - 810nm near infrared wavelength

Diode systems deliver a longer wavelength than the Ruby (694 nm) and the Alexandrite (755 nm) systems. Penetrating deeper into the dermis inhibiting follicular growth areas without causing as much epidermal injury as the Ruby or the Alexandrite laser. Diode lasers are more adapted for darker skin colours than Ruby or Alexandrite.

Diode systems are amongst the newest available for hair removal applications. They are small, portable and easier to use than many other systems as they don't need a flash lamp to act as a pump. This is because the semi conductor diode is one of the most efficient light sources available.

Pre Treatment

Shave the treatment site to reduce the smell of burning hair and stopping long hairs from getting in the way of the skin/ follicles being treated. If you are tanned use a sunscreen for several weeks before treatment to reduce the chance of pigmentation issues.

Treatment

A contact cooling device is always used with this laser type. Diode lasers will provide temporary hair loss on most fluence settings, however, higher fluences used by experienced operators increase the possibility of permanent hair removal. At the time of treatment only mild discomfort should be felt and this is diminished with anesthetics.

Conclusion. Diode 800 nm and Nd:YAG 1064 nm lasers are safe in laser-assisted hair removal in Chinese patients, and besides immediate pain, there was no other significant adverse effect. Most patients experienced regrowth 36 weeks after a single treatment. Further study is necessary to determine the long-term clinical efficacy and complications of laser-assisted hair removal with these systems in dark-skinned patients.

Post Treatment

After the first treatment hair regrowth is mostly delayed by 2 to 5 months. Multiple treatments usually result in long term hair reductionso long as appropriate fluence settings are used.